Golden Hawks repeat champs

COSTA MESA El Dorado quarterback Kane Wilson felt he let his senior teammates down once. He wasn't about to make it twice.

The junior quarterback scored on a 5-yard keeper with 25 seconds remaining to lift El Dorado to victory over Trabuco Hills, 13-12, in the CIF-SS Southwest Division finals Friday night at Orange Coast College.

It was the Golden Hawks' (13-1) second consecutive CIF Southwest Division championship as they again ended the season on a 13-game winning streak.

"I wasn't going to let the seniors down," he said. "I just didn't want us to give up. I told the line to give me time to throw."

The Hawks, trailing 12-6, took over on their 16 with 3:08 left in the contest. El Dorado was coming off a series where it wasted a golden opportunity deep in Mustangs territory. And the Hawks hadn't scored since their opening drive of the first quarter.

Yet Wilson rallied his teammates. He completed two key third-down passes, including a 26-yarder to Jay Matthews. Then his 10-yard scramble gave the Hawks first and goal at the 8.

"I'll live and die with him," El Dorado coach Jeff Bailey said. "They were harassing him all game. He made the plays when he needed to."

The Hawks had the ball at the Mustangs 1 with just under 8 minutes to go. However, the Trabuco Hills defense stuffed Devin Deleon on third down. Then confusion happened on fourth down.

Wilson called the wrong snap count, and the center hiked the ball early. The ball came loose. Wilson recovered and the Mustangs held. Wilson took the blame for the miscue after and was overwhelmed to be able to comeback and score the winning touchdown.

Just as importantly as Wilson's game-winner was Chase Lansford's extra point. He missed on his first attempt before connecting on his second.

The Mustangs missed both their attempts. They were blocked by the interior of the El Dorado defensive line. The first one was blocked by Kyle Allen.

"The kicking game hurt us tonight," Mustangs coach Jason Negro said.

Trabuco Hills went ahead, 12-6, on quarterback's Cory Brandt's 2-yard keeper with 10:03 to go in the fourth quarter. It was set up by a 60-yard reception to Kevin Halloran, who finished with 120 receiving yards.

Mustangs running back Matt Wagner scored the team's first touchdown on a 1-yard run to tie it at 6. Wilson's 13-yard run gave El Dorado its first score.

The Mustangs (12-2) were hurt by two first-half interceptions. Both came inside the Hawks 30.

"We didn't capitalize on our opportunities when we needed to," Negro said.

The rally completed the Hawks' goal of repeating. Like last season, El Dorado lost its season opener to Esperanza before running the table.

"I had faith in our offense," linebacker Anthony Laurenzi said. "I almost had a heart attack. We've been through so much. It's been worth it. We needed to come through again and we did."

Contact the writer: ctobolski@ocregister.com